BJP brass upset over race to appease RSS

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 12

Battling the Opposition in Parliament over controversy generated by some of its leaders, the BJP leadership has not taken kindly to those initiating and courting such controversies.

The attempts, apparently to “endear themselves to the RSS”, have derailed the government’s agenda in Parliament in the first three weeks, top government functionaries today said.

If the “rhetoric” was aimed at attracting the attention of the BJP’s parent body — the RSS — it was wrong. “The RSS also does not approve of such methods. The Opposition is on the lookout for controversies. By handing them readymade opportunities on a plate, they are only harming the government’s agenda in the Parliament,” a party leader said.

With the Winter Session ending on December 23, the top leadership is worried about several pending legislations, including those forwarding its economic reforms agenda such as the Insurance Bill which proposes to hike existing 26 percent FDI cap to 49 per cent.

While the Insurance Bill will be discussed in Parliament next week, top BJP leaders say the government is close to reaching a consensus on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with state governments and the Bill is likely to be tabled in this session.